Max Duhamel, drummer of the Montreal based death metal powerhouse KATAKLYSM, announced yesterday (Monday, April 8) that he was taking a break from the band to deal with issues related to alcohol abuse.

The other members of KATAKYSM have since released the following statement regarding the matter: “We as a band of brothers stand by Max‘s decision to get better and to rise from his demons. We all have them; some of us try to hide them and pretend they dont exist, some of us have the courage to confront them, Max has shown strength to fight his. We stand by him and hope that he returns home when he is ready. In the meanwhile, I want everyone to know for those who haven’t seen the ‘Iron Will’ documentary that this band’s story is one of drama, pain and the long road to victory…

“We will practice what we preach on our albums. We will come out swinging hard and strong with this new album. We will find a suitable replacement and we will announce him in the next few weeks. We will not disappoint any of you.

“We have read the messages of encouragements you have posted. We have the best fans… and in these classic words, ‘the show must go on.'”

KATAKLYSM has set “Waiting For The End To Come” as the title of its new album, tentatively due in late 2013/early 2014 via Nuclear Blast Records. The follow-up to 2010’s “Heaven’s Venom” will be recorded by KATAKLYSM guitarist Jean-François Dagenais, who has previously worked with MALEVOLENT CREATION, MISERY INDEX and DESPISED ICON, among others, and mixed by Chris “Zeuss” Harris (SUFFOCATION, HATEBREED, ARSIS).

KATAKLYSM‘s multidisc DVD, “The Iron Will: 20 Years Determined”, entered the German chart at position No. 98. The set depicts the ups and downs of KATAKLYSM‘s long, turbulent career, as well as footage of the band’s performance at last year’s Summer Breeze festival, which took place August 18-20, 2011 in Dinkelsbühl, Germany. The cover art for the release was created by artist Colin Marks (ORIGIN, EXODUS, NEVERMORE).

KATAKLYSM‘s latest album, “Heaven’s Venom”, sold around 2,400 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 8 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

Source: www.blabbermouth.net